Guwahati, June 10: Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George said Assam is rapidly emerging as a major destination for global investment and holds a distinctive position in India’s outreach to the East under the Act East Policy.
Speaking during the visit of a high-level European Union delegation to Guwahati, George said India’s engagement with eastern countries has expanded significantly since the transition from the earlier Look East Policy to the Act East Policy. He noted that Assam has become one of the most important pillars of this vision and is attracting growing international attention.
According to George, Assam offers unique advantages that have generated considerable interest among companies seeking opportunities in the region. He said the state’s strategic significance has strengthened India’s engagement with the wider world and positioned it as an important area of cooperation.
The remarks came during the two-day visit of a “Team Europe” delegation led by European Union Ambassador to India Herve Delphin. The delegation visited Guwahati on June 8 and 9 to explore opportunities for collaboration across the eight Northeastern states — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
During the visit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held discussions with members of the delegation on enhancing trade ties, attracting investments and expanding commercial cooperation between Europe and the Northeast region. The engagement forms part of broader efforts aimed at strengthening relations under the India-European Union Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.
Highlighting Assam’s economic performance, Sarma said the state is witnessing growth at a pace exceeding the national average. He stated that while India is growing at 29 per cent, Assam is registering growth of 45 per cent, providing strong momentum for investors looking to establish a presence in the state.
Expressing optimism about the future, the Chief Minister said Assam’s growth trajectory is expected to accelerate further over the next five years, adding that the progress achieved in the previous five years would be surpassed by even faster development in the coming years.
The visit by the European Union delegation is being viewed as an important step towards deepening economic cooperation between Europe and Northeast India, with Assam increasingly positioning itself as a gateway for investment, trade and connectivity in the region.
